It's Nice To Be Noticed! - Employee of the Month

JANUARY 20, 2017 - I was officiating a men's city league basketball game the other night and as the game concluded the site official said, "And that is why you are the Employee Of The Month!" I giggled and came home thinking nothing more of it. Going through my email I found the January Orem Recreation Department newsletter and stumbled across the announcement. I found myself slightly humbled.

Being noticed at whatever you do is kind of nice. I haven't been an "Employee" for decades, but when I decided to take on officiating assignments for the City of Orem, they put me through the process, made me watch a sexual harassment video, take a drug test, and do a background check before they deemed me hire-able. When I was all don, they even issued me an ID card that also entitles me to get myself and a friend into the rec center. Of all my officiating assignments, it is only the City of Orem that has made me an official employee.

For me, it was a feel good moment that was unexpected. It was kind of like getting extra hot fudge on my sundae. Officiating is a fun side line of work that helps cover the bills when the real estate market comes to a halt. I have found that the better I get at blowing a whistle and calling balls and strikes, the more fun it becomes. Yes some of the fans, players, and coaches are still whack-jobs, but I have become much better dealing with their temporary fits of whackdom.

So for another 10 days, I get to puff up my chest a bit and know that I beat out everybody from the newest 14 year old lifeguard at the pool, to the scorekeeper at the Saturday morning games. But in reality, it takes every one of us to keep the recreation department a thriving success in our community...

About the author

Michael Leavitt came into mortality on August 3, 1961 in the small town of Brigham City, Utah. He was immediately deemed healthy and his Mom and Dad took him home to the nearby, but much smaller town of Bear River, Utah. 6 months later the family was on the move to Southern California with some time spent in Florida and then Southern California again. After a crazy upbringing in the middle of gang banger central, Michael caught the vision and decided to serve two years as a proselyting missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in Southern Brasil. “That was an incredible experience that allowed me to devout all my time, talent, and energies serving the Lord” said Michael about his missionary service. Returning home and quickly turning 27 Michael found the love of his life and married Shelly Webb from Claremont, California. Jessica came along within 9 months of their marriage, later followed by Adam, Haily, and Aaron. The time has flown by and Michael now finds Jessica married and making him a Grandpa 3 times over.